Chair or like furniture



Dec. 9, 1969 A. J. JANSSEN CHAIR OR LIKE FURNITURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 51, 1967 2m W dr. y

Dec. 9, 1969 A. J. JANSSEN I CHAIR OR LIKE FURNITURE Filed on. 31, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. J. JANSSEN Dec. 9; 1969 CHAIR OR LIKE FURNITURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 31, 1967 United States Patent 3,482,870 CHAIR 0R LIKE FURNITURE Amoldus Joseph Janssen, Sittarderweg 58a, Heerlen, Netherlands Filed Oct. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 679,414 Claims priority, applicatinlrqsBelgium, Oct. 31, 1966,

Int. Cl. B60n 1/02; A47c 27/00, 13/00 US. Cl. 297-92 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a chair or like piece of fumiture with a back rest, which is secured in an easily detachable way to a seat frame, the back rest consisting of a. separate frame with upholstery provided on the outer surface.

A known chair of this type is devised to permit the dismantled pieces to be packed and shipped and to enable the user to assemble the pieces easily again by means of a limited number of screws.

It is an object of this invention to provide a chair in which the easy detachability of the back rest not only allows for attaining the object as described hereinbefore, but moreover includes an adaptability during the time the chair is used.

It is a further object of the invention to obtain this adaptability also for arm rests and for the seat.

It is another object to obtain a reversibility of one or more of these parts, with simple means, and in a manner which will only cause a slight increase in the cost price.

According to the basic concept of the invention, the back rest is reversible, preferably by being removable substantially in its own plane, whereupon it is reversed by 180 and again attached, the means of attachment consisting of insert pins and/or guide openings or slots, in the back rest and the seat frame.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a chair which comprises a frame element, a back panel element and a seat panel element, mounted on the frame element, pin and slot means being provided between the frame element and the back panel element to connect the same to permit the back panel element to be displaced with respect to the frame element between first and second positions in which the back panel element is reversed, and opposite faces serve as a rest surface. The pin and slot means comprises a pin on one of the elements and a slot on the other element, the pin being slidable in the slot, and the slot having one end which is closed and positioned to support the pin in abutment thereagainst in a secured position of the back panel element with the frame element.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation specific forms in which the invention may be embodied.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows partially in elevation and partially in section a first embodiment of a chair according to the invention;

3,482,870 Patented Dec. 9, 1969 "ice FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chair in which the various parts thereof are shown during their change of position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chair according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the chair in FIG. 3, with the various reversible panels in the position ready for use of the chair;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a chair according to a third embodiment, with the back rest and the seat in elevation;

FIG. 6 is a detail marked VI in FIG. 5 on enlarged scale in elevation.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 front posts of the chair are denoted by 1 and 2, the back posts being denoted by 3 and 4 respectively. The seat frame, which is denoted by 5 lies on a support 5 which in turn is connected to a pair of horizontal bars 5" between the lower ends of each pair of front and rear posts 1, 3 and 2, 4 respectively. On the seat frame 5 in this embodiment a loose upholstered cushion, not shown, can be disposed in well known manner.

The chair frame 15" stands on legs such as 1', 2', 3, connected thereto in well-known manner.

A sectional view of an arm rest panel 6 is represented at the left in FIGURE 1, the shape of which is best seen in FIGURE 2. The arm rest 6 consists of a frame generally denoted by 7, which in this case is provided with a thin coverings of three-ply board or plastic material on its main faces; the upholstery, not shown, can be disposed on this covering 8 in any suitable known way.

The two lateral edges 9 of the arm rests 6 are each provided with a slot 10 extending in lengthwise direction. Pins are disposed in the associated front post and back post 1, 3 and 2, 4 respectively, which are inserted in the slots. These pins may be either short pins in each of the posts, as will be the case in other embodiments to be described, or a one piece shaft 11 for each of the arm panels 6, as shown in dash lines in FIGURE 32. In this case the construction is such that the slot 10 extends the entire width of the arm rest or arm panel 6.

By the aid of the construction described, it becomes possible to move the entire arm panel in a vertical direction whereupon it can be swung upside down. Since the arm panels preferably have widened parts 12, 13 respectively on which the user rests his arm, it is necessary that the arm panels effect a small tilting movement into a position indicated by the dash line 6, whereby the lower widening 12 is moved away from the seat frame. The dash line 6 indicates a next position in which the arm panel has been lifted and thereupon partially tilted about the shaft 11. After having been further tilted, the arm panel arrives in an inverted position at a slant corresponding with that of the dash line 6', while finally with a final movement the normal position is again attained whereby the main faces of the upholstery on the arm panel are shifted with respect to the initial position.

The back panel 14 is constructed in a smilar manner, the shaft being denoted by 15, while one of the associated slots 16 in either lateral face is shown in FIGURE 2. It should be noted that as the back 14 extends downwardly as far as the upper edge of the seat frame 5, slots 16 suffice for the back which are shorter than those made in the arm panels.

The seat frame may be provided with magnets, as denoted by 17 in FIGURE 1, cooperating with iron parts 18, 18' respectively in the arm panels, whereby a rigid operating lock is obtained which, in normal use of the chair, prevents the arm rests from leaving their vertical position when a slight pressure is exerted from the inner side.

It is to be noted that both the arms and the back, which can be swung through 180 about a respective axis, with respect to which they are symmetrical, can be secured in either of two positions at the same place on the chair frame, the positions being only different in that in one position the outer main faces of the upholstery are the inner main faces in the other position and vice versa, the shape of the chair otherwise being unchanged in the two positions mentioned.

The opposite surfaces of the reversible elements of the chair can be covered with difierent design upholstery and in order to change the chair with a covering giving for example a warm impression (winter version) into a chair with a covering giving for example a cool impression (summer version) one only need to swing the panels through 180. Naturally, the seat cushion can also be provided with two types of upholstery, and the seat cushion can be reversed as desired.

In the embodiment according to FIGURES 3 and 4 there is shown a so-called dining room chair which has no arm rests, and contrary to the first embodiment described, the seat cushion is not loose, but it is connected reversibly to the frame of the chair.

The chair frame in this case consists of left and right front legs 19, 20, rear legs such as 21, back posts 22, 23 and seat posts 24, 25 respectively. These frame portions are interconnected and held together by means of a plurality of cross members, such as 26 at the top of the back, 27 at the transition of the back to the seat, and 28 and 29 between the front legs and the rear legs. The back panel 30 and the seat panel 31 are not shown with the inner details of their structure, and they may, in any suitable manner, comprise a frame work with upholstery. Each of the lateral edges, such as 32 and 33 of the seat and back panel is provided with a pair of sidewardly projecting insert pins such as 34, 35 and 36, 37 respectively. These insert pins cooperate with guide members in the form of slots 38, 39, 40, 41, which are visible at one side of the chair in FIGURE 3 and at the other side in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 4 shows that each slot, such as 41, in the seat posts 24, 25 of the chair is provided at its front end with a slot portion 42, which extends at a certain angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the slot 41, and which has an open end.

From FIGURE 4 it is visible that the distance of each pair of pins, such as 36, 37, is less than the length of the corresponding slot 41. FIGURE 4 shows the normal position of the seat when the chair is used. The seat 31 can be displaced forwardly with the pins on either side being guided by the corresponding slots, the first pin 37 will follow the transverse slot portion 42, so that the front edge of the seat is freed. Thereupon the rearward pin 36 will, when the seat is drawn out further, also leave the slot. The seat 31 can then be swung through 180 and placed in the chair frame again in upside down position.

FIGURE 4 further shows that the rearward end of each slot is provided with a broadened portion 43, in which the rearward pin 36 (or the pin 37 when the seat has been reversed) will find a rest; by this measure the seat can be taken out only after lifting the rearward edge of the seat and freeing the pins from the broadened portion 43 of the slots.

Apart from this, the similar construction of the reversible back panel 30 will be clear. The pins such as 34, 35 on either side of the back panel have a distance which is somewhat less than the length of the slot 39, which has a lateral portion 44 near its upper end. After slightly lifting the back panel, the upper pin 34 will leave the open ended slot portion 44 followed by the second pin 35. After swinging the back panel through 180, it can be positioned again by engaging the pin 34 first in the slot.

It will be clear that the precise angle between the slot end portions 42 and 44 with respect to the slots 41 and 39 respectively is of no importance, provided that there is a transverse direction with a free end, which prevents the panels from being pushed or drawn out accidentally and which enables inversion by manipulating the panels when desired.

In the third embodiment which is shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6, the frame 45 may be of arbitrary construction. The arm rests are not covered with upholstery, but they are exposed, and the substantially horizontal beams 46 may constitute part of the chair frame. The back rest 47 and the seat 48 are upholstered panels; at the adjacent edges these two panels are interconnected by means of a pivot 49 (or for example two pivots at the left and at the right side). Laterally extending on either side from the back panel 47 and from the seat panel 43 are pairs of pins, such as 50 and 51 respectively; a third pair of laterally extending pins may coincide with the axis of the pivots 49. Each of the pins 49, 50, 51 are supported by a guide member, which is slot shaped, which may have a relatively short length and which is preferably a resilient metal bow strip, such as 52 in FIGURE 6, which acts as a snapping means for the pin which is to be supported. Each of the supports, such as 52, is open at the top, and thus enables the pivotally connected seat and back panel to be lifted, reversed and replaced into operative position again.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

WhatI claim is:

1. A chair comprising a frame element, a back panel element and a seat panel element mounted on said frame element, and pin and slot means on said frame element and back panel element connecting the same to permit the back panel element to be displaced with respect to the frame element between first and second positions in which the back panel element is reversed, said pin and slot means comprising a pin on one of said elements and a slot on the other element, said pin being slidable in said slot, said slot having one end which is closed and positioned to support said pin in abutment thereagainst in a secured position of the back panel element with the frame element.

2. A chair as claimed in claim 1 comprising pin and slot means connecting said seat panel element and the frame element to enable the seat panel element to be reversed.

3. A chair as claimed in claim 1 comprising arm rest elements, and a pin and slot means between the arm rest elements and the frame element to permit the arm rest elements to be individually reversible on said frame element.

4. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pins are two in number on said one element and the slot has an opposite end which is open to permit the back panel element to be removed from the frame element and replaced in reversed position, the closed end of the slot receiving a respective pin for respective positioning of the back rest element relative to the frame.

5. A chair as claimed in claim 4 wherein said slot is provided with a longitudinal portion of substantial extent and an inclined portion which extends from the longitudinal portion and opens at said open end.

6. A chair as claimed in claim 5 comprising pin and slot means connecting said seat panel element and the frame element to enable the seat panel element to be reversed.

'7. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slot is provided with a local enlargement at said closed end thereof for retaining said pin thereat.

8. A chair as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pin is secured to said back panel element and said slot is formed in the frame element, said back rest element being pivotal about said pin to permit reversal of the back panel element.

9. A chair as claimed in claim 8 wherein the pin and slot means comprises a second pin and slot respectively in the back panel element and the frame element, said pinsbeing aligned.

10. A chair comprising a frame element, a seat panel mounted on said frame element, an arm rest element and pin and slot means connecting the arm rest element and the frame element to permit the arm rest element to be displaced with respect to the frame element between first and second positions in which the arm rest element is reversed, said pin and slot means comprising a pin on one of said elements and a slot on the other of said elements, said pin being slidable in said slot, said slot having one end which is closed and positioned to support said pin thereat in a secured position of the arm rest element to said frame element.

11. A chair as claimed in claim 1 comprising magnetic lock means on said arm rest element and said frame element for holding the arm rest element against the frame element in both positions of the arm rest element.

12. A chair comprising a frame, a seat element, a back element, means pivotally connecting said seat and back element together for pivotal movement between first and second respective positions, and :means releasably connecting the seat and back elements from the frame to 'enable the same to be removed and replaced on the frame in both of said first and second positions, said seat and back elements having respective opposite seating surfaces which are reversed in said first and second positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 656,391 8/1900 Conrad 297283 997,737 7/1911 Bezold 297283 2,796,919 6/1957 Ginsberg 297283 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,647 1901 Great Britain.

JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 2971l8, 283 

